Question

Jill Meyer · Post by **Jill Meyer** » Thu Jan 01, 2004 10:40 am

Hi there

I would like a personal reply to the following question:

The headlights on my MX5 have not retracted into the car body when
turning the engine off - is this a blown fuse??

Would appreciate an a response to this question.

Thanks

Jill Meyer

Taikorea Road

RD 3

Palmerston North

New Zealand

Mobile: +64-29-200-5457

MX5PWR · Post by **MX5PWR** » Thu Jan 01, 2004 12:58 pm

Hi Jill, could either be a blown fuse or has the radio surround been removed
at all because if the hazard light switch has bee unplugged then your head
lights will not retract.
Regards Nigel

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Thu Jan 01, 2004 7:35 pm

My 1992 (and I assume all others, but could be wrong!) are not controlled by
the ignition switch at all. They can be manually operated by the switch on
the dash. If this has been pushed, then the lights will always be in the up
position, no matter what the state of the ignition or light switch. If the
button has not been pushed, then the lights are up when the headlights are
switched on, and retract when the lights are off. My guess is that the dash
button has been bumped into the up condition. If, as Nigel suggested, the
switch has then been unplugged, the lights will always be up no matter what
you do with the switches. Been there, done that!

Grant.

Post by **zorruno** » Thu Jan 01, 2004 10:21 pm

Gareth, are you sure? This is not the case with most models I have seen.
Can you not park your car with the headlights popped up and key off? Anyone
else with an 89 care to test?

PS - I assume people copied their replies directly to Jill Meyer as well as
the list? She's not subscribed.

zorruno

Wayne · Post by **Wayne** » Thu Jan 01, 2004 10:29 pm

96 NZ new - Ignition has no effect on lights/pop ups

Wayne

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 7:05 am

How would you work on the lights (ie replace them for example) if they
wouldn't stay up with the ignition off? Seems strange to me that they would
always retract with the ignition off.
Thanks for the prompt to copy the message to Jill. I didn't think of that!

Grant.

Ross Bryon · Post by **Ross Bryon** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 1:43 pm

I have experienced this same problem in my daughter's '90 Roadster.
Lights would not retract with ignition-off... but would retract
sometimes many minutes later!
In her case it had nothing to do with any malfunction in the dashboard
button, or the fuse.
It was a malfunctioning relay which operates the headlight retracting
motor. New relay, problem fixed.
In both her '90 and my '91 the retraction of the headlights are
actuated by the turning off the ignition switch -- but can also be
raised and lowered (without turning on the lights) with the dashboard
button.

Hope this helps,

Ross Bryon
Ampersand Design
ross@ampersand.co.nz
Tel 64 9 376 1670
Fax 64 9 376 4009
Mob 64 21 376 167
BRG V-Spec 1991 Roadster

On 1/01/2004, at 10:40 AM, Jill Meyer wrote:

[...]

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 2:04 pm

Presumably they retract if raised due to the lights being on, and I assume
the lights turn off with the ignition? If so this would make sense. My (Jap
import) lights are not controlled by the ignition switch at all. Would be a
good idea though to stop flattening the battery if the lights are left on.
Don't know why manufacturers don't set the lights to turn off with the
ignition switch. Ford did it with the Cortina all those years ago!
Grant.

EricW · Post by **EricW** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 7:13 pm

On my "94 (Import) the headlights are not affected by the ignition at all,
you can turn the lights on, with or without ignition on. Turning the
ignition off has no effect on the lights, which stay up until the lights are
turned off.

The dashboard switch is similarly unaffected by the ignition, turn the
switch on and the lights come up and stay up. They do not illuminate
however. If I then turn the lights on , they illuminate. If I turn the
lights off again, the lights stay up until the dashboard switch is turned
off. Turning the dashboard switch off while the lights are illuminated has
no effect, but again, once the lights are switched off, the headlights will
retract.

My wife is now further convinced that I have lost it completely, but I hope
this helps somebody.

By the way, I noticed that the Targa MX5 achieved 171 kmh down the back of
Pukekohe. That does not seem all that quick really, does any one know what a
1.8 is supposed to be capable of in standard trim, I would have thought it
should get up around that anyway, it's only about 106 MPH

Eric

Wayne · Post by **Wayne** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 7:48 pm

Top speed of a 1.8 is around 125mph, but of course that is unlimited length
of road and ideal conditions.

Wayne

nmr · Post by **nmr** » Fri Jan 02, 2004 9:52 pm

By the way, I noticed that the Targa MX5 achieved 171 kmh down the
back of Pukekohe.

Seems unlikely, but maybe the speed limiter was still active.

Fletch · Post by **Fletch** » Sun Jan 04, 2004 11:19 pm

By the way, I noticed that the Targa MX5 achieved 171 kmh down the back of
Pukekohe. That does not seem all that quick really, does any one know what a
1.8 is supposed to be capable of in standard trim, I would have thought it
should get up around that anyway, it's only about 106 MPH

Eric

Thats about the (indicated) speed I can get to at Pukekohe, before having to
brake for the hairpin... Due to optimistic speedo's, I'm probably not
actually going that fast... so a better driver in a semi-race-rubbered car
with a 1.8 making that speed sounds about right to me...

For what its worth, that's just a hair over 7000 RPM in fourth... no time
for fifth!

Fletch.

mycarstuff · Post by **mycarstuff** » Tue Jan 06, 2004 12:39 am

not sure about Pukekohe, however at manfeild 171km in an mx5 would be a
hard ask, just not enough track to get that type of speed.

[...]

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